Apparatus for processing thread in the form of a package



Feb. 21, 1950 L. s. FRYER ETAL 2,493,540

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING THREAD IN THE FORM OF A PACKAGE 4 Sheets-Sheet1 Original Filed June 10, 1940 Ennentor: Low; 5. FRYER PER J. EANDERssONYNE JJOKILEHTO 7/ 6 florneg Feb. 21, 1950 L. s. FRYER ETAL APPARATUS FORPROCESSING THREAD IN THE FORM OF A PACKAGE Original Filed June 10, 1940'4 Sheets-Sheet 2 31wcnforl Louus 6. FRYER PER \lEANDERON\A/AYNEJJomLEHTo (Tltorneg Feb. 21, 1950 L. s. FRYER 'ETAL 2,498,540

- APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING THREAD IN THE FORM OF A PACKAGE OriginalFiled June 10, 1940 4 Sheqts-Sheet 3 IIIIII/IIIIIIIII.

I I6 P 14 1o x Y w w:

Bummcx! LOUIS SFRYER FERJEANoERssom WYNEJJOKILEHTO utorucg Feb. 21, 1950FRYER ETAL APPARA I US FOR PROCESSING THREAD IN THE FORM OF A PACKAGE.

Original Filed June 10, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 3nvcntonf Louls 5. FRYERPER JEANDERssoN gigvwe J.

(mm-neg Patented Feb. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FORPROCESSING THREAD IN THE FORM OF A PACKAGE ware Original applicationJune 10, 1940, Serial No. 339,667. Divided and this application July 17,1946, Serial No. 684,182

8 Claims. -(Cl. 68-189) The instant invention relates to an apparatusfor processing thread or the like in package, form. More particularly,the invention is concerned with the production of threadlike articles ofsynthetic origin, such, for example, as tapes, bands, single-ormultiple-filament threads, cords and the like, notably those adapted forweaving. Such products will be referred to hereinafter in thespecification and in the appended claims in a generic sense as thread.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 339,667, filedJune 10, 1940 (now abandoned). v

For convenience, the invention will be described hereinafter as employedin the manufacture of multiple filament viscose artificial silk thread.

In the manufacture of multiple filament viscose artificial silk threadaccording to the spool-spinning system, it has been the practice toemploy a multiplicity of separate processing steps which necessitatefrequent removal and handling of the thread packages. The threadaccording to customary practice is first collected in suitable packageform upon a spin spool. The filled spool is removed from the spinningapparatus, washed to remove the acid, desulphurized, washed again, andfinally placed in a suitable drying device and dried. U

Next the thread to be processed is twisted, unwound from the twistbobbin, and formed into skeins. The skeins so formed are suspended fromrods which are placed in and advanced lengthwise of a skein-treatingmachine, in which a plurality of endless chains or similar elementscarries the skein rods through a succession of processing stages,including bleaching, washing, oiling, sizing and the like. Subsequent tothe treatment of the thread, various methods are employed to dry andprepare it for the trade.

Obviously, the handling of such thread during its production is not onlycostly by reason of the great amount of labor required but alsodetrimental upon quality. Experiments have indicated that freshly spunviscose artificial silk thread is extremely sensitive, due largely tothe fact that it is not completely coagulated in the atum in that itmakes possible the complete processing treatment of thread in itsoriginal package form, just as it is removed from the spinningapparatus. By virtue of the elimination of substantially all of theexcessive handling of the thread hitherto required, the presentapparatus accounts for a very considerable reduction in the cost of suchoperations. Other advantages inherent in the apparatus of the presentinvention will become apparent as the description of the inventionproceeds.

' In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is anelevation of a typical apparatus including a processing tank and itsassociated equipment as employed in the practice of the instantinvention. Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan of the apparatus illustratingthe arrangement of a plurality of thread packages preparatory toperformance of the processing operations. Figure 3 is a side elevationcorresponding to Figure 2 with parts broken away.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevational on an enlarged scale taken from line4-4 of Figure 1 illustrating in detail the method of supporting thethread package. Figure 5 is a partial plan corresponding to Figure 4,but with parts omitted, indicating the manner in which the spools andpackages are inserted in the apparatus. Figure 6 is an elevation on anenlarged scale of a preferred type of flexible corrugated spool with athread package wound thereon. Figure 7 is an end elevation of the spooland package of Figure 6.

For the purposes of the invention, it is preferable that a flexible coreor spool be employed such, for example, as that designated by thereference character I!) in Figures 6 and '7. Illustrated spool it] isgenerally tubular in form and is characterized by the presence of aplurality of axially extending corrugations. A core or spool of thistype responds readily to compression or expansion without losing itsshape. Such a spool is well adapted to use in connection with theinvention, for the thread is constantly free from tension which mightotherwise be developed in the course of the various processingoperations.

Any appropriate form of package Il may be wound upon spool I0, which ismounted upon the spin machine in the conventional manner, as by means ofa suitable expansible mandrel. An open package, for example, a packageof the nature of that shown in the Lovett Patent No. 2,267,983 is usefulby virtue of the fact that it is highly porous but neverthelessself-supporting. This latter combination of features is desirable forthe purposes of the present invention in view of the fact that theefliciency of operation of the apparatus is appreciably increased whenthe package is such that it can be supported independently of the spool.

The apparatus of the present invention includes, as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, a longitudinally extending processing trough I2which comprises a frame casting I3, brackets I4 and longitudinallyextending angle pieces I5 supporting the trough proper which may beconstructed of wood or other suitable material resistant to the actionof corrosive fluids customarily employed in the processing operations.Arranged preferably in parallel rows and extending longitudinally of thebottom I6 of trough I2 are a plurality of bases I1 each of which servesto accommodate a single spool Ill and forms a fluid-tight support forpackage II. On the opposite end of each spool Ill is placed a cap I8which like base I1 forms a fluid-tight seal for the upper end of packageII.

Base is designed to accommodate any conventional form of self-supportingthread package. It is illustrated as circular in shape and provided atits periphery with an upwardly extending shoulder portion 20 which isuniformly beveled toward the center, such shoulder portion accommodatingthe sloping shoulder of thread package H. shoulder portion 20constitutes a compression ring 25 which is just slightly smaller indiameter than the normal outside diameter of flexible spool I0 after thethread package I I is wound thereon. Therefore, upon insertion thereinof one end of spool I0, compression ring 25 operates to compress thelower half of the spool slightly away from the interior of threadpackage II.

At the center of base I1 is located an upwardly extending generallycylindrical guide 2| which, in addition to assisting in properlylocating spool I 0 when it is inserted in the apparatus, contains aplurality of angularly arranged openings 22 through which processingmedium is introduced. Surrounding guide 2| in base I1 is an annularindentation 23 which terminates in a raised ring-shaped stop 24extending to the base of shoulder portion 20. Base I1 is secured to thebottom I6 of trough I2 by means of a depending stem portion 26 whichextends through the bottom I6 of trough I2, on the opposite side ofwhich it is threaded to accommodate a jam nut 21 which forces alaterally extending plate 28 against angle pieces I5.

At its lower end, stem 26 is provided with flange plate 30 threadedthereon in such manner that, by means of a washer 33 and bolts 32, afluidtight connection is effected with a similar flange plate 3| onoutlet 34 of manifold 35. The latter extends lengthwise of theapparatus, being employed to supply any desired processing liquid orliquids to the trough I2. Internal bore 36 in stem 26 serves not only tosupply processing media to -jet openings 22 of guide 2| from manifold35,

but also to drain the fluid out of the interior of spool I0 when thesupply is shut off.

In practice, spool III is inserted in base I1 and compressed slightly bycompression ring 25 in such manner as to permit shoulder portion 20 tosupport the package, thus leaving a generally cylindrically shaped openspace 11 surrounding the outermost portion of the periphery of spool I0between'the spool itself and the inside of package II. Thereafter a capI 8 provided with a tapered shoulder portion 31 adapted to contact theupper end of thread package I I, together with The inner diameter of'v acompression ring 38, an annular chamber 43, and cylindrical stub portion4|, is applied to the upper end of spool I0, stub portion 4| thereofbeing inserted in socket 42 in the upper end of guide 2|. Cap I8 andbaseI1 cooperate to seal both ends of the package against leakage ofprocessing medium.

Any suitable form of locking means may be employed to hold cap I8 inproper relation to base I1. In the illustrated embodiment of theinvention is shown one form of a bayonet type locking means which iswell adapted to use in the apparatus in view of its simplicity and easeof operation. Pin 43, disposed laterally of socket 42, fits into slot 44in stub portion 4| forming part of cap I8. By grasping hand grip 46 ofcap I8, pressing downward, and turning the cap slightly at the sametime, the operator causes shoulders 45 adjacent slot 44 to engage pin43. A drain hole 5| may be provided to drain off any processing mediumwhich may inadvertently collect in socket 42.

One or more shelves 41 supportedby brackets 48 secured to one side oftrough I2 are provided for temporarily storing caps I6 while theapparatus is not in use or during the interval when the spools andpackages are changed. Any convenient number of such shelves 41 may beemployed depending upon the number of spool positions provided in thetrough I2. It is preferable, though not necessary, to provide a numberof indentations 50 in spaced relation to each other lengthwise of shelf41 to assist in positioning caps I 8 thereon so that they may not bereadily displaced.

As previously stated, longitudinally extending manifolds 35 supplyprocessing media to the various positions occupied by packages II intrough I2. Manifolds 35 are preferably closed at the ends thereof byblank flanges 52 and interconnected in the manner illustrated in Figure4 by pipe 54. Connecting with pipe 54 isa feed pipe 55 which, in view ofthe importance of maintaining a substantially equal pressure throughoutthe system, is connected at the approximate center of the apparatus. Ifa very long trough designed to accommodate a large number of spools isemployed, it may be necessary to close entirely one or more jet openings22 or to place inserts of varying diameter therein to vary the flow ofliquid therethrough in order to keep the pressure more nearly equalthroughout the system.

The other end of feed pipe 55 (Figure 1) is connected by means of onebranch of a T 56 to a distributor pipe 51. To the other'branch of T 56is connected a by-pass 58 controlled by valve 60 whichleads to drainoutlet 53, which operates to clear the manifolds 35 and all connectingpipe lines of processing media remaining therein after each step of theprocessing treatment is completed. By utilizing the same feed lines inthis way, it is possible to eliminate unnecessary .pipe lines and thussimplify the piping arrangement.

As many different processing operations as may be required can beperformed with the apparatus of the invention. For purposes ofillustration, the apparatus is illustrated in Figure 1 as capable ofsupplying four different processing media to the thread packages. Thus,for instance, wash water, sodium sulfide, a bleaching solution, and anoil emulsion may be supplied from supply tanks (not shown) todistributor pipe 51 under a slight pressure, preferablyl approximately 3pounds per square inch, by means of pipe lines 6|, 62, 53 and 64,respectively controlled by valves 65, 66, B1 and 68.

To provide for drainage of the processing liquids which have passedthrough thread package 8 l, a drain channel I leading toward one end oftrough I2 is provided in the bottom l6 thereof. To said channel 10 isconnected drain pipe II, which in turn leads to drain outlet 53. Drainoutlet 53 is equipped with a flexible metal hose [2 which serves todirect the processing liquids to sewer outlet 13, in the case of wateror other liquids which cannot be economically reused, or to return lines14, and I6 to be directed to suitable storage and make-up means (notshown) provided to prepare such liquids for repeated use.

In the operation of the apparatus, a plurality of flexible spools l0bearing freshly spun thread packages II are inserted into bases I! intrough I2, whereupon caps I8 are placed upon the upper ends of spools l0and locked in place in the manner previously described. Packages II arenow wholly supported upon the shoulders and .31 of the bases 11 and caps13, respectivel independently of spools I0. Such packages are preventedfrom longitudinal expansion by said caps and bases, whichare securelylocked together.

Valve 65 on pipe line 6| is opened and wash water, preferably heated toa temperature of 65-'70 C., is introduced under a pressure ofapproximately 3 pounds per square inch into distributor pipe 51, whenceit flows through feed pipe 55, pipe'54 and manifolds 35. From manifoldsthe liquid passes by means of internal bore 36 of stem 26 through jetopenings 22 into the interior of each spool Ill. The interior of eachspool I0 is, therefore, filled with processing medium under a slightpressure.

Due to the fact that the upper end of spool II] is closed by cap It, thewash water passes along the inside of the corrugations of spool l0 andmay only escape from the interior thereof by way of the spaces above andbelow the ends of said spool formed by the circular indentation 23 andchamber 40 in the base I! and cap I8, respectively. By virtue of theconstruction of base I l and cap l8 leakage of liquid between theshoulders of the package and shoulder portions 20 and 37, respectively,thereof is virtually impossible. The wash water, therefore, in escapingfrom the interior of spool H! can only pass around the ends of saidspool and along the outside of the corrugations of said spool into spaceTI on the inside of thread package H.

When sufficient water has been introduced to the system, the waterpasses radially through thread package ll. After passing through thepackage, the wash water finds its way into drain channel 10, throughdrain pipe H, drain outlet 53, and flexible hose 12 which is placed inseweroutfet 13. It is not ordinarily desirable to reuse the wash water,for the low cost of fresh water does not justify the expense ofpurifying waste water; however, this is not true with most otherprocessing media.

When the washing operation is complete, as determined by testingaccording to usual practices, such, for example, as by means of methylorange, valve is closed and the system permitted to drain. Valve 60 isnow opened and the liquid in the interior of the spools Ill, manifolds35 and all connecting pipe lines removed by means of by-pass 58. Jetopenings 22, due to their angular disposition, operate to drain the lasttraces of processing fluid from circular indentation 23 in base l1.

cap locking means.

After the wash water has completely drained, hose I2 is removed fromsewer outlet 13 and placed in. return line 14. Valve 60 in by-pass 58 isclosed and valve 66 in pipe line 62 opened and the processing treatmentcontinued with the sodium sulfide solution. The latter passes throughpackage I I in the manner previously described, is caught in trough I2,and removed by return line 14 to a suitable storage reservoir (notshown). When this processing step is completed, valve 66 is closed andthe entire system drained as before.

Thereafter, the thread packages are again subjected to washing to removeany traces of the sodium sulfide solution remaining therein.

After this washing, flexible hose T2 is placed in return line 15, valveis closed, and valve 61 in pipe line 63 opened, introducing thebleaching solution into thread packages H. When the bleaching operationis completed, Valve 51 is closed and the entire system is again drained.After another washing step, performed in the manner previously explainedto remove all traces of the bleaching solution from the thread, the hoseI2 is placed in return line 16, valve 68 in pipe line 64, is opened, andthe thread packages subjected to treatment by means of a suitable oilemulsion.

Following the oiling step, thread packages H carried by spools I0 may beremoved from the apparatus by twisting cap it so as to disengageshoulders 45 from contact with pin 43 of the As the caps 88 are removed,they may be turned upside down so as to rest on handle portions 46 andplaced temporarily on shelf 41 until the next set of spools and packagesare ready for processing treatment. Thereafter, processed threadpackages Il may be placed in suitable drying apparatus and either driedon spools ID or removed therefrom, skeined and dried. The apparatus isthen placed in readiness for the next series of packages to beprocessed.

As hereinbefore stated, it has previously been necessarry to expendconsiderable labor in handling each thread package to prepare it forprocessing treatment. By employment of the present invention, the largeamount of labor required in conventional practice to shift the spoolsladen with thread from one processing stage to another is nowunnecessary. Such handling has not infrequently resulted in harmfuleffects upon the thread; e. g., frayed and broken filaments, snarls,knots, etc, all of which are eliminated by the present invention.

Many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention. Thus spools bearing the individual thread packages may beplaced in the troughs with their axes horizontal, rather than vertical.The imperforate spool may be provided with angular re-entrant portionsand flat ridge portions without in any Way impairing its flexibility orits application to the process of the present invention. As previouslyindicated, any suitable piping arrangement may be utilized so as toinclude other processing steps than those previously mentioned, such,for example, as sizing, dyeing or the like.

The-apparatus of the present invention is not restricted to themanufacture of artificial silk thread. A variety of other uses, as forexample, in the processing of thread packages made up of materials ofdifferent character, whether of natural or synthetic origin, willsuggest themselves to those familiar with the art. It is, however,

intended that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression in theappended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty reside in theinvention.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for the processing of thread comprising, a contractiblecore upon which a thread package may be wound over less than the fulllength of said core so as to leave a portion of each end free of thread,recessed sealing means receiving the thread-free core ends into whichsaid ends extend in frictional contact and to locate the package, saidrecesses in said sealing means having a lesser diameter than theuncontracted core and constricting the core away from the package, saidsealing means making fluid-tight contact with the ends of the package toprevent leakage of a processing medium and elongation of the package,means for introducing a processing medium between the core and thepackage under a substantially uniform pressure, and means for collectingthe spent processing medium.

2. Apparatus of the type described in claim 1 in which the sealing meanscomprises, a recessed base, a recessed cap, said recesses in said baseand cap receiving the thread-free ends of the core in a constrictingmanner, and a locking means associated with said base and said cap formaintaining the base and cap in fixed spaced relation with respect toeach other.

3. Apparatus of the type described in claim 1 in which the sealing meanscomprises, a recessed base having a stem portion extending axiallythereof in the direction of the recessed cap, a recessed cap providedwith an axially extending stub portion, and a locking means associatedwith said stub portion cooperating with the aforementioned stem portionof the base to maintain the base and the cap in fixed spaced relationwith respect to each other.

4. Apparatus of the type described in claim 1 in which the sealing meanscomprises, a recessed base receiving the thread-free end of the corehaving associated therewith an axially extending stem in the directionof the cap one end of which is provided with a socket in which isdeposited a'pin, and a recessed cap receiving the other end of the corehaving depending therefrom an axially extending stub portion which isprovided with a lateral slot and shoulder portions adjacent said slot sodisposed that when the stub portion is inserted in the aforementionedsocket formed in the stem of the base saidshoulders engage the pin andserve to maintain said cap in fixed spaced relation to said base.

5. Apparatus for processing thread comprising, a contractible core uponwhich a thread package may be wound for over less than the full lengthof the core so as to leave a portion of each end of the core freeofthread, a base supporting means for said core and package having arecess of lesser diameter than said uncontracted core receiving one endof said core and constricting said core when it is placed thereinto,said base supporting means being provided with a shoulder for receivinga package about said core and forming a fluid-tight contact with the endof said package, a cap also having a recess of lesser diameter than saiduncontracted core and a shoulder receiving the other end of said coreand package and forming a fluid-tight contact with the other end of thepackage, locking means associated with said supporting means formaintaining said base and said cap in spaced relation and preventingelongation of the package, means for introducing between said spool andsaid package a processing medium under substantially uniform pressure,and means for collecting the spent processing medium.

6. Apparatus for the processing of thread comprising, a contractiblecore upon which a tapered package may be wound over less than the fulllength of the core so as to leave a portion of each end of the core freeof thread, a longitudinally extendin trough including a plurality ofprocessing units each of which accommodates a core having a wound threadpackage and includes a base portion having a core receiving recess intowhich a core end constrictionally extends, said base portion also beingprovided with a tapered shoulder for making fluid-tight contact with onetapered package end, a cap portion having a recess and a taperedshoulder constrictionally receiving the other end of said core andmaking fluid-tight contact with said package, locking means associatedwith the cap portion cooperating with the base portion to preventelongation of the package during processing treatment; means forintroducing processing medium under a substantially uniform pressurebetween the core and the package, and means for removing the spentprocessing medium from said trough.

'7. Apparatus for the processing of thread comprising, a contractiblecore having an undulating surface upon which a tapered package may bewound over less than the full length of the core so as to leave aportion of each end of the core free of thread, a longitudinallyextending trough including a plurality of processing units each of whichaccommodates a core having a wound thread package and includes arecessed base portion adapted to constrictionally receive of aprocessing medium and having lesser diameters than said core forconstrictin said core, locking means associated with the cap portioncooperating with the base portion to prevent elongation of the packageduring a processing treatment, means for introducing a processing mediumunder substantially uniform pressure to the interior of said core; saidshoulders in the cap portion and base portion directing said processingmedium from the interior of said core around either end thereof throughthe undulations to its outer periphery; and means for removing the spentprocessing medium from said trough. v

8. Apparatus for the processing of thread comprising, a flexible,generally cylindrical core having an undulating surface upon which athread package may be wound 'for less than its full length leaving thecore ends free of thread, recessed sealing means constrictionallyreceiving either end of the thread-free ends of the core for a distanceso as to leave a space between the core ends and the bases of therecesses for the passage of a processing medium, the recesses in 9 thesealing means being of lesser diameter than said core and compressingsaid core slightly away from the inner surface of the package, taperedshoulders in said sealing means forming fluidtight contact against theends of said tapered package and to prevent elongation thereof means forintroducing a processing medium into the interior of the core undersubstantially uniform pressure; said recesses in each of said sealingmeans being adapted to direct said processing medium around the ends ofsaid undulating core to the outer periphery thereof so as to besubstantially uniformly distributed to all portions of the inner surfaceof said package; and means for collecting the spent processing medium.

LOUIS S. FRYER. PER J. E. ANDERSSON. WAYNE J. JOKILEHTO.

nmanucns CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

